Hardware and Software Requirements for Field-based Respirable Crystalline Silica Monitoring

For end-of-shift silica monitoring, you will need:

Hardware:

• Sampling pump and respirable cyclone
• Laptop computer
• Portable FTIR spectrometer with transmission module (KBr optics), commercially available options include:
  - Agilent (model: Cary 630)
    NIOSH-developed macro package for Agilent
  - Bruker Corporation (model: Alpha)
    NIOSH-developed macro package for Bruker
  - Perkin Elmer (model: SpectrumTwo™)
    NIOSH-developed macro package for Perkin Elmer
  - Thermo Scientific™ (model: Nicolet™ iS5™)
    NIOSH-developed macro package for Thermo Scientific
  - other comparable transmission FTIR instrument
• Sample bracket and sample cradle (free designs for 3D printed version available from the NIH 3D Exchange webpage
• "FAST-ready" sampling cassettes, such as:
  - coal mine dust sampling cassette, or
  - FTIR cassette from Zefon (part number: 7450PVC-CF-FTIR, available by contacting the company)

Software:

• FTIR spectrometer software (from the manufacturer of your instrument)
• FAST software, download from our website
• Spreadsheet software (e.g., Excel or any other common spreadsheet software)

Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.